Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item :http://hdl.handle.net/2066/78632

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Subject:

Institutional Shifts in Government and Governance in a Comparative and International Context

Organization:

Bestuurskunde

Journal title:

Journal of Regional Studies and Development

Volume:

vol. 18

Issue:

iss. 1

Page start:

p. 29

Page end:

p. 57

Abstract:

This article proposes to change performance measurement in such a way that it becomes possible to relate outcomes to the public policies involved, taking into account the complexity of the context. It involves a five step procedure, including quantitative and qualitative analysis. It is argued that this method can also be used as a search-light to detect best practices. This five step procedure is applied to the problem of crime rates in Dutch municipalities. The outcomes suggest that just looking at crime rates as such can distort conclusions about the effectiveness of municipalities. The remarkable finding for the Netherlands is that among those cities experiencing high crime rates there are nevertheless also cities having exemplary policies to combat crime.